Path-clearing apparatus.



J F. WEBB, JR.

PATH CLEARING APPARATUS.

APPLICATHJN FlLED APR-27.1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 WI T/V E 885 8:

A TTORNEV6\ J. F. WEBB, JR.

PATH CLEARING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1914.

Patented J uly 11, 1916.

LWWSJHL.

Ill/VENTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jean/F W066, 71:

JEAN F. WEBB, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

PATH-CLEARING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916..

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN F. WEBB, Jr., residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Path-Clearing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in train stopping apparatus.

In the art of train stopping apparatus there has become known a type which employs a train carried mechanism that includes a member (either in the form of an arm, a plunger or a shoe, or a combination of these) which is adapted to contact with members located adjacent to the track along the right of way. It has been found in practice, particularly in northern locations, that accumulations of snow, ice, frozen dirt, etc, frequently interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus, due to the fact that such accumulations of debris prevent the proper and timely contact between the track and train carried members.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the path of travel of the train carried membermay be cleared of obstructions so that when the train carried member comes into operative position with relation to the track member or members, the proper operation of the parts will be assured.

More subordinately the invention includes a mechanism which may be attached to any train stopping apparatus that employs an arm or plunger to engage a track member, although the invention is particularly useful in connection with the train stopping apparatus which forms the subject-matter of my (so-pending application filed on even date herewith, Serial #834 ,865.

Again, the invention includes an attachment which is adapted to be secured to the supporting casing of a train stopping apparatus, in advance of the actuating shoe of such apparatus, the attachment including a vertically disposed body that has a plow shoe at its lower end to aline with the operating arm of plunger, and the shoe of the train stopping apparatus, and a support for such body, the support preferably having a cutting nose to laterally throw off obstructions encountered by it during the travel of the apparatus along the right of way.

In its more subordinate nature the invention includes those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention as applied to a train stopping apparatus of the type disclosed in my co-pending application aforesaid. Fig. 2 is a sec tion on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section on the line 4l-4 on Fig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 represents the housing of the train stopping apparatus which is provided with the necessary mechanism to effect the required action and which mechanism includes the vertically movable plunger 2, having a shoe 3 which is preferably beveled as at 4: to form a plow-like member (see Fig. l). The bottom face 5, of the shoe 3, is preferably inclined slightly to the horizontal so that the sharpened edge of the shoe when it engages the track member (not shown) will not be dulled.

6 designates the horizontal plane and by reference to Fig. 1, the inclination of the lower face of the shoe 3 will be apparent.

The support for the plunger 2 is preferably provided with a ii-shaped nose 7 for a purpose later explained.

8 designates the housing which is provided with a flange 9 through which the securing screws 10, that fasten the housing 8 to the train stopping mechanisms housing 1, pass. The housing 8 is preferably in the nature of a tubular body having its front face formed into a penetrating or cutting nose 19 and the casing 8 is bored as at 111213 to form a chamber in which the plunger 15, its stem 16, nut 17 and spring 18 are located.

Of course, when. the member 2 of the train stopping apparatus is a rigid contacting member only, the member 15 may be made correspondingly, but it is preferable to have the members 2 and in the nature of yield-' able plungers.

The plunger 15 is provided with a shoe 20, the front face 31 of which is preferably beveled from one side upwardly and -transversely forwardly while the side face 22 is beveled upwardly and inwardly 'so as to plow loose the obstructions and throw them to one side. Instead o'finaking the shoe as thus described, it may be made as is the shoe 3 shown in Fig. t.

In practice I prefer toma'ke-both the shoes- 20 and 3 with sharpened edges so that they may-both act as ice and snow-plows, the shoe 3 serving to plow loose any frozen material which the shoe 20 fails to loosen up.

' The und'er'face 23 of 'the shoe 20 is preferably inclined from the horizontal to dulling'of the cu'tting'edge.

The casings is formed with a rearward extension 2% which is bifurcated at 25 and provided with'setscrews 26 for attachment to the nose =7 of the train'stopping apparatus casing.

In practice, it willbe obsei'vedthat'as the apparatus passes along the right of-way, should any accumulation of snow,-ice, frozen dirt,'or other similar obstructions, be in the path of the apparatus, it w illbe plowed loose and thrown to one side so as, to "insure the proper action of the plunger 2 of the train stopping apparatus.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention prevent will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which'the invention'relates.

What claim is: 1. In an apparatus of the character stated, a rigid support, a plunger verticallymovable in saidsupport, a 'plow'shoe carried by said lun er said su) ort'includin a enetrat- P c a b ing nose. V

2. "In tin-apparatus ofth'e character stated, a rigid support, a plunger "vertically movable in said support, aplow shoe carriedby said plunger, said support including a'penetrating nose, a supplementalsupport secured to the frontcof said rigid support, a rear- I wardlyprojecting arm carriedby said supplemental support to engage said rigid support,,a plunger yieldably mounted in said supplemental supportand a plow shoe carried by said last named plunger.

3. Inaniapparatu s of-the character stated,

: a'rigid'support having adep'e'ndin'g portion provided with a chamber, a plunger mount near its upper end to said rigid support,

said supplemental support having a rearwardly projecting arm secured to said depending portion of said rigid support, a plunger yieldably mounted in said supplemental support in advance of said first mentioned plunger, said second mentioned plunger having a vplow shoe for clearing the path of movement.

4.. In an apparatus ofthe character stated, a rigid support having a depending portion provided with a chamber, a plunger mounted in said chamber, a shoe carried by said plunger, a supplemental support secured nearits upper end to said rigid'support, said supplemental support having a rearwardly projecting arm secured -to said depending portion of said rigid support, a plunger yieldably mounted in said supplemental support in advance of saidfirst mentioned plunger, said secondiuentioned plunger having a plow shoe for clearing the path of movement, said supplemental support having a penetrating nose.

5. In anapparatus of the class described, a support, a plunger yieldably mounted in said support, a cutting plow carried by said plunger 'for clearing 'the path of movement of the apparatus as a whole.

'6. In an apparatus of'the character stated, a support, said support including a p'e'netra'tin'g nose, said supporthaving a bore, a plunger yie'ldably mounted in said bore, a shoe carriedby said plunger, said shoehaving a beveled portion to provide a cutting 'stantially flat bottom ramp cleaner downwardly inclined from its front to its rear, and held'to the ramp with suiiicient force to push aside the dirt and to break up or melt away any ordinary sleet accumulations thereon.

JEAN F. WEBB, JR.

Witnesses:

JEAN F. WEBB, R WV/GUNTHER.

- Copies bf this patentmay be obtained'forffive cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

